Lee Caunce - My Journey to Chartered Membership

MCIMSPA (Ch)

In this blog we welcome Lee Caunce MCIMSPA(ch), who became CIMSPA’s first Chartered Management member earlier this year, to discuss why he pursued the route through chartered.

Individuals who are passionate, professional and competent drive the success and growth of our sector. Through sport or physical activity, they inspire and enable our nation to be active. In CIMSPA’s pursuit to showcase the excellence of the sport and physical activity sector’s workforce we present our ‘Meet the Member’ blogs. Through a variety of interviews with CIMSPA members we want to highlight the different career avenues available in our sector and show just how diverse in experience our workforce really is.

In this installment we introduce Lee Caunce, an experienced duty manager at Bury Leisure. Lee was one of the first to go through our Chartered Management pilot and successfully became a chartered member earlier this year. Our conversation with Lee about his career was detailed and humbling, as we learned what he thought of our new pathway to Chartered Management.

Could you briefly outline your background and why you decided to apply for chartered status?

I began my career in leisure in 1999 as a lifeguard with Bury Leisure, while working there I have developed my skill set through all the way from swim teaching to a duty manager, and now my role as Bury Leisure Training Lead.

Becoming a chartered member was the next step in my development within an industry that is always developing and moving forward. This status allows my skills and knowledge to be recognised and will allow me to help shape the industry with the support of CIMSPA – who are leading and shaping the leisure sector in a positive and sustainable manner.

Why should current professionals join CIMSPA and apply for chartered status?

Anyone in any role will benefit from becoming a CIMSPA member. The resources, support, training and CPD opportunities are an amazing way to develop as a person within leisure. Becoming a chartered member allows you to have all the credibility of your knowledge and experience.

What does chartered status mean to you?

Becoming successful in the chartered management pathway firstly is a huge honour and to be the first in the country to complete this process is amazing. This has benchmarked me at a chartered level within the leisure sector, and in turn I can use this to influence positive change and development within the sector I am passionate about. Appearing on CIMSPA’s chartered register is one of the most appealing benefits to me. The recognition that the status brings within the sector, and being able to use the designatory letters with any correspondence you send, allows people to be aware of your knowledge in the industry and that it has been assessed by a group of your peers.

What are the most appealing chartered benefits to you and what impact will they have on you?

Appearing on CIMSPA’s chartered register is one of the most appealing benefits to me. The recognition that the status brings within the sector, and being able to use the designatory letters with any correspondence you send, allows people to be aware of your knowledge in the industry and that it has been assessed by a group of your peers.

Why is it important that chartered members are recognised for the work they’ve done?

The recognition and accreditation of chartered status is acknowledged within the sector. and its association bodies. Chartered status will help you succeed in your career.

Do you have any advice for those thinking of applying for chartered status?

Anyone who feels they wish to undertake the chartered process, I would recommend setting aside a sensible amount of time. It cannot be carried out in one sitting and time needs to be scheduled in to collect and collate your evidence. Ensure your CV and CPD logs are up-to-date and that they are current and valid. Set aside time to plan your question responses for your interview stage and ensure that you are prepared for this. I think most of all do not be scared of asking the team at CIMSPA for support or guidance. They are a fantastic team and always on hand to steer you in the correct direction.

How did you find the chartered process?

The chartered process is a challenging one and can be stressful at times, however, the support that we are available is outstanding. I found a successful way of presenting my evidence in a manner which was easy to link to my question answers during the interview stage. I found the process from start to finish exciting and laid out in a very clear and understandable step-by-step process with opportunities for support from the team throughout. The feeling when I achieved the chartered status was overwhelming and I would recommend undertaking this journey to anyone who felt it was a route in which they were able to do.